I've got quite an old desktop computer running Windows 8. The motherboard is an old Gigabyte that doesn't support secure boot.

Windows 8 works fine with it, the only thing that doesn't work fine is my LG Blu-Ray writer, for some reason I've only been able to get that to work as an external USB drive ever since upgrading. All my other DVD burners work fine though (most probably because it's an LG - Lifes Good for Lucky Goldstar!)

That sound promising. You can get the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant here. Run it and it will tell you if your system is up to snuff. Also, it might be useful to check out some of the other posts in this thread about motherboard compatibility and other possible hardware issues. Just because your machine has enough RAM and a fast enough processor doesn't necessarily mean it will run Windows 8.1, depending on other components.

Thanks for the question, Ross. I asked Microsoft to clarify the specific details regarding motherboard compatibility, since I'm pretty sure replacing the motherboard can involve not only technical issues, but also licensing entanglements. I'll post their response once I receive it.

But you are correct that Windows 8 requires a motherboard that supports DEP. The article didn't dive into this level of detail, but this sort of difficulty is one of the reasons we said a lot of old XP systems simply won't support Windows 8.1. EDIT-- After digging around, it seems it would be more accurate to say Windows requires BIOS-level DEP support. I'm not sure what the implications are for all components, since BIOS is part of the motherboard generally but not exclusively. I'll update again when Microsoft sends me more specifics.

In fact, some older PCs lost motherboard compatibility between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Win 8.1 required motherboards with CMPXCHG16b support whereas Win 8 did not. So some people with old computers upgraded to Windows 8, found it horribly inappropriate for their non-touch PCs, and then were unable to access Windows 8.1's numerous mouse-and-keyboard improvements. Talk about a bummer.

The next update will reportedly shrink the OS's footprint and enable it to run on cheaper hardware. I think that probably has more to do with incenting OEMs to build new budget Windows 8.1 devices to compete with Chromebooks, but maybe Microsoft will also find a workaround for XP users who don't want to buy new machines. The update looks like it will hit right as Windows XP loses support.

Using the equivalent of slut-shaming to "encourage" people to move to a newer OS from XP is hardly worthy of a professional magazine, but then, professional behavior is getting harder to find anywhere.

Last week I was travelling and had some time to kill in Little Rock, AK. I spent some time browsing a nearby Best Buy. I was shocked that I could buy a Windows laptop for the same price as a Chrome Book. Unless Microsoft has already started these incentives, it appears the cost difference is minimal or doesn't even exist.

"Zorin OS is a multi-functional operating system designed specifically for Windows users who want to have easy and smooth access to Linux. It is based on Ubuntu which is the most popular desktop Linux operating system in the world."

It has a number of different desktops that look like various other O/S's...

As InformationWeek Government readers were busy firming up their fiscal year 2015 budgets, we asked them to rate more than 30 IT initiatives in terms of importance and current leadership focus. No surprise, among more than 30 options, security is No. 1. After that, things get less predictable.